Points or visits? Choosing the right loyalty model

The most common loyalty question we get: should I do 'buy 10 get 1 free' or a points system? The answer depends on how predictable your basket is.

Visit-based (punch card)

Best when every visit is similar — a coffee, a haircut, a lunch thali. Simple to understand, satisfying to complete. The downside: it ignores how much each customer spends.

Points-based

• ✓Best when baskets vary a lot — boutiques, restaurants with wide menus.
• ✓Rewards big spenders proportionally, which protects your VIPs.
• ✓Pairs naturally with tiers (Bronze/Silver/Gold).

Predictable basket? Go visits. Variable basket? Go points. When in doubt, points with tiers scales further.

Whichever you pick, sync it to your POS so it updates in real time — a loyalty balance the customer can't trust is worse than none.